Hanamizuki, Because Flowers Are Not Just Beautiful
Chapter 14: Sunny Day
“The remaining time is only 5 minutes! The representatives of class 1 A and B had made it out! And now it's just a matter of waiting for class E, will they succeed at this time?”
“Aish Carnation-nee the spirit is so hell—eh senpai—”
“Huh? You called him nee-san?”
Riri rubbed her neck when Typha asked her.
“Uh well I'm keceplosan.”.
“Hey you! How dare to call our esteemed principal nee-san! Is he ready for you?!”
“Teruplah... by the way girls make tired only..”.
“You saw, right? There's only 5 minutes left and your lousy students haven't come out yet, are you still sure they'll win? Fufufu.”
This time Riri did not comment. He just folded his hands together and looked seriously at the exit of the labyrinth.
“Live time 60 seconds! What class 1-E made it out!?”
“About possible..”
“They...?!”
“Just before 0 seconds, class 1-E made it out of the labyrinth!!”
Immediately cheers and boisterous applause sprang up. Of course this was the first time for the E class to take part in a magic tournament and succeed.
“K-we succeeded?”
“This is really right?”
“We...we succeeded in the first round...?”
The maze and mist disappeared. The sunlight again illuminated the entire place. The 1st grade A and B grade kids who saw the success of 1st grade E grieved resentment.
“Surely they cheated, where could a child from a lowly class like them win?”
“Didn't Carnation-senpai say, anything can happen?”
“Ah, Riri-sensei!”
Riri sensei waved towards his 3 students who called out his name.
“Cubit me, we actually made it in the first round right?”
“We succeeded!”
“You fought well! I was worried you guys haven't come out at the last minute!”
Like before starting the tournament, Riri again patted the backs of his 3 students to the point that they complained of pain.
“Sakiuitt!!!! What are you doing anyway?!”
“Sorry sorry! I'm just so relieved to see you guys make it!”
Riri smiled at the 3 students until they blushed in shame, let alone Amaryliss.
“I-it's just luck..”
“Important are you already—”
Riri held her face. Again his eyes were open.
“S-sensei? You okay?”
“Ah sorry, I'm fine...! Then the next round?”
“The next chapter is held in 2 days, Riri-sama.”
Alstromeria swiftly answered him. Riri who saw his presence gave her a smile.
“Thank you, Alstro-san! This first half went well!”
“I-it's nothing—”
“Alright! Let's celebrate this first victory with lunch together!
...****************...
“The second branch is a test of the accuracy of flower magic..what have I taught them?”
Riri looked lethargic in front of her desk. The next test will be held tomorrow, which is the flower magic precision test. The examiners will give the test to the participants to what extent the magic ability of each flower is.
“At least you taught them defense magic right?”
“If that's not enough! Alright, today I will give them another special exercise!”
Riri ran into the kitchen and was busy doing something. Camelyum who saw him behind only shook his head with a smile.
“Master, I'm a little worried about the black gray that covers the silver color of your hair. You said it was because you were thinking a lot, right? Are you sure you're okay?”
“Ah take it easy! I once grayed black like this when I was a teacher at an orphanage, to the extent that my students were teasing me with charcoal hair because it was so black. Ahahaha!”
Camelyum laughed a little when Riri mentioned charcoal hair with a cute gelagat. “Really? How does that gray hair disappear?”
“Hmm somehow? I myself was unconscious, know-know missing.”
Riri looks busy making 10 pieces of sandwiches arranged into a container.
“But Master... All this time I've been watching you, not only are you thinking a lot, but your mana flow is also not as smooth as usual. Do you know that I've always been in your necklace? Automatic I can also feel your heartbeat.”
Riri patted Camelyum's hair and gave him a smile.
“I'm fine, don't worry so much! You want to come along? If not just keep the house..”.
Riri took off her apron and ran to her room to get dressed. Camelyum just sighed. He knew very well the stubbornness of his Master just by looking at it.
“You however I still have to come, Master..”.
***
“T-no lessons?”
“Yeah, special today I won't give you a lesson.”
“K-why?”
Class 1-E students were confused when Riri announced today that she would not be giving lessons. It was because Riri announced it cheerfully.
“Sensei! Tomorrow's second round tournament! We must train more flower magic in order to win!”
“Everything other than Elder, Iris, and the fierce one, for today you can take another class besides my class, okay?”
Although confused, they obey the wishes of the only male sensei in the academy and then leave the classroom, leaving Amaryliss, Elder, and Iris who are also confused.
“Sensei?! What the hell do you want?”
“Listen to me..”
Amaryliss was a bit surprised to see the face of Riri who according to him ‘imut’.
“Special for you guys 3, I will take you to a beautiful place.”
“T-beautiful place?”
“S-sensei? I-I'm not ready to know~”
“Ha? Ready for what?”
Riri looked at Iris who looked like she was having a strange dream.
“Surely she fantasizes the no-no—”
“What do you say fierce chick?! Problem!?”
“Why?! You distracted?!”
“You are!?!!”
“Eeeh already noisy ah!”
Riri separated the quarrels of Iris and Amaryliss by pushing her. “I told you I'd take you to a beautiful place. So you guys just look at ya!”
***
About 15 minutes into the walk, they stopped over the hills. Laurel City is flanked by 2 mountains with many hills. From the hill they can see the view of the city of Laurel is very broad and more beautiful.
“It turns out Laurel city can be this beautiful when viewed from above!”
“You're right Iris-chan!”
Elder and Iris looked very happy as Riri led them to this hill. Not with Amaryliss.
“Sensei, do you mean beautiful? This is.. mediocre in my opinion.”.
Riri looked at him. “Ah, princesses like you must often see from high places right? Or maybe you have flower magic that can make your body float? Uh! If you have magic like that teach me too!”
Riri looked at her with sparkling eyes, making Amaryliss instantly avert her gaze because ‘malu’.
“M-where there is such flying magic! Not even alumni can!”
“Hmm, if ‘no one can’, it means there is a way.”
“Sensei?”
Riri put her sandwich basket under the tree. Looking straight at the view of the city of Laurel from the hills.
“Everything must have a way, want it hard though, proof that you are already proficient in using teleport magic beyond other classes right?”
“I-it's nothing special!”
Sergey Amaryliss with flushed face.
“You know, extensive knowledge does not guarantee your happy life. Unless you guys are good at deciphering it.”
“What do you mean?”
The elder blinked his eyes not understanding.
“I was assigned by Carnation-nee—I mean senpai became your teacher, the lowest ranked magic class. I don't know what I would be like if I taught in a class higher than this. Maybe I've swallowed them up like I swallowed a bite of sushi! Ahaha!”
Iris laughed a little hearing that.
“But so far I've noticed that the kids in the class who are higher than you are compete against each other to be the best. Without caring about the position of his friends who are in trouble. For example, when I talked to the 3rd graders who just graduated.”
“E-eh?! Sensei talked to them?!”
“They casually demean my class, I am so stupid in their eyes what!?”
“Didn't you suck?"
Amaryliss said with a veiled face. Riri's face immediately bowed gloomyly.
“The one thing I understood when talking to them was, they were taking too lightly people who were inferior to him. Without knowing what will happen next.”
“E-eh?”
“You guys did it at the last moment, right? I was very satisfied when I saw the disappointed faces of those who thought you would fail.”
Iris, Amaryliss and Elder were unable to say anything.
Riri-sensei was so supportive and trusting of us, even though what he taught us was nothing like children who were higher in class than us. That's what's special about him.
Suddenly the thought came to Amaryliss's mind. He stole a glance with both of Riri's blue eyes.
“Then in the second half, believe in what you have, what's the point of competing if you leave the most valuable thing?”
“The thing...the most valuable?”
Iris said it slowly.
Riri lowered his body slightly to be on par with the 3 students.
“Circulation.”
“I...bondage..?”
“Ah! That's a suitable place! Let's hurry we go down!”
Suddenly Riri exclaimed and took his food basket down the hill. Leaving his 3 students who were still confused.
***
“Riri-sensei..that's enough..I'm not going to walk anymore..”.
“Hold in a minute! We'll get to a more beautiful place!”
Riri takes Amaryliss, Iris and Elder up and down the hill. This time they were climbing a higher hill.
“View...on the hill that was..also already beautiful....what other places the heck in—”.
Amaryliss cut off her words when she saw the amazing sight before her. The 4-year-old stopped climbing the hill, when they saw a beautiful sight that was so soothing to the eyes.
In front of them was a huge waterfall with clear water. But there is something that makes the view different.
From the top of the waterfall, it has a rainbow color, but the flow of water below it remains clear.
“W-woa..a-I didn't know there was a place like this in the hills of Laurel!”
“Sensei, do you live here to know a place as beautiful as this?”
“E-no! I only heard it from some of the residents here who talked about it.”
‘I will take you to a beautiful place’ is not wrong. So far Riri has made the sweat of his 3 students drained by searching the hills, seeing various types of flowers that are rarely found in the city of Laurel, meeting with various kinds of locals and finally here, here, in the clear rainbow waterfall.
“A-what is this magic waterfall? Why is it rainbow-colored from above but the flow of water below remains clear? Or the reflection of sunlight?”
“Don't just stand, let's sit here! I know you can't climb anymore!”
They sit on the edge of the rainbow waterfall river. They were even more shocked when Riri opened her basket.
“Well please enjoy Riri special sandwich!”
“W-wah, k-looks like a delicious sandwich! Sensei made it himself?”
Asked Iris who bit her sandwich first, chewing it with red cheeks.
“Yeah one of my oddities is that I would cook too much if I had a lot of groceries I'd never met! For example, when I give you that food, ehehe.”
“Heee just the two of them? Why don't you give it to me too?”
Sewot Iris, Riri just grinned back at him.
“You were prepared for Riri-sensei to say that?”
“Why ha?! You don't like it when I say that?!”
Again there was lightning between them which made Riri just sigh.
“At least your knowledge increased after tired of climbing up to here. You guys are the first people in Hanatarou academy to see this magical waterfall.”
“B-really?!”
“Yes, many people do not want to come here because the distance is very far. But you will be satisfied when you arrive here.”
“Willing here is tired of knowing! Tomorrow we will start the 2nd round!”
Sewot Amaryliss with his mouth still chewing on his sandwich. Seeing her cheeks blushing, Riri just laughed.
“Basic girl fierce, just say that you like when you see this scene! Aren't you the first person whose mouth almost touched the ground in his amazement? Ahahaha!”
Successful face of Amaryliss hot flushed. He bit his sandwich again by turning his face away.
“Sorry, Riri-sensei, Amary-chan was so long ago.
“Eh!?”
The Elder's words left Riri in shock. Amaryliss spontaneously covered the Elder's mouth with her palm.
“A-what are you saying anyway Elder-chan?!”
“No, Riri-sama you were wrong, we were the first to come to this place before you guys.”
Suddenly another voice came from the river.
“Eh!? Alstro-san and Typha-chan?”
“Good day, Riri-sama.”
“Err...I told you not to use –sama...”.
Alstromeria and Typha in the attire of Hanatarou academy security forces approached them. Accompanied by the spirit of each flower.
“Woah, your flower spirit is beautiful yes, Alstro-san!”
Praise Riri smiling at the spirit of the Alstromeria flower, a beautiful girl with long hair unraveling and sparkling. He returned Riri's smile.
“I have heard a lot about you from my Master, Riri-sama, my name is Peruvian Lily, nice to meet you, Riri Hanamizuki-sama.”
The spirit of the Alstromeria flower greeted politely. Riri was shocked when she heard his name.
“Uh? You have Lily's name too? Doesn't that mean we're one race?”
Riri asked Alstromeria. But Peruvian answered it.
“True, we are indeed one race, but different families. Warm regards to you, Riri-sama.”
Riri was a bit awkward looking at the Alstromeria flower spirit who was actually being polite to her. But then he saw the spirit of the Typha flower.
“Um...your flower spirit..twins?”.
“Good afternoon, Riri-san, my name is Typha II, the twin of my brother, Typha-nee.”
Said the Typha flower spirit while giving a bow of respect. The face of Typha and the spirit of the flower are similar, as is the spirit of the Amaryliss flower.
“Woa you guys are indeed similar..how do I tell you apart?”
“Kakku Typha-nee put her ribbon on the right, and I'm on the left.”
Riri noticed the ribbon that Typha and her flower spirit were holding. The location of the tape is different.
“Riri-san?”
“T-ear of your cat..i-cute once..”.
“Thank you very much, Riri-san.”
Typha and its twin bow together. Seeing her, Riri's face reddened—she held back wanting to hug them both because of gemas—
“What are you doing all the way here?”
“We are studying tour!”
Riri replied happily, Elder and Iris smiled stiffly hearing him, and Amaryliss pushed her lips up.
“Really? But the 3rd don't seem to think so.”
Said Alstromeria glancing towards Elder, Iris, and Amaryliss. Riri turned his head towards the 3 students, smiling briefly.
“Later you will understand when the second round of exams begins.”
“Eh?”
“You two, Alstro and Typha, what are you doing here?”
“This is Miss Carnation's order, to patrol.”
“What? Patrolling all the way to a place like this?!”
“Enemies can take a gap from anywhere, especially during a magic tournament like now.”
“That guy is weird..”.
“Anu, Riri-san, can I ask you something?”
“Sure, what is it?”
“What relationship does Riri-san have with Miss Carnation to the point of calling her senpai or a strange woman.. Even if I don't hear wrong, Riri-san calls her ‘kakak’...?”
“Uh...we are just acquaintances really, nothing more!”
“Really? But Riri-san and Miss Carnation look very close more than just acquaintances.”
That kid is so smart, how old is he really? Ah no, anyone who noticed would be curious as well!
“Sensei calls the principal ‘kakak’?! How old is he!?”
“Um it..”
“Tell us!”
Hearing Amaryliss's curse followed by Iris and Elder, Riri was more confused to answer it or not. Riri took her breath for a moment, then stood up and stared at the top of the rainbow waterfall, her lips smiling briefly.
“My current position is just an apprentice teacher. I need some time to think, and tell that to you guys.”
The girls who were watching him were just staring at his teacher in astonishment.
“Because if you talk about Carnation-senpai, then it will be on my former self.”
“R-Riri-sensei..?”
“Aah it turns out time goes fast huh! The sun is setting, it's time to go home! Please bring that food basket yes!”
Riri just passed by leaving the 5 girls who were still drowning in confusion.
“Himself..the former..?”
“So far, we do not know much about Riri-sensei right?”
This time Amaryliss confirmed Iris' words. The elder shook his head slowly.
“Although mysterious..but I always felt a warm aura from him.”.
The blonde girl smiled. Then lift the basket Riri owned.
“Well, let's try teleporting to Riri-sensei's place and return to the academy?”
***
At 6 o'clock Riri and his 5th pupil return to Laurel's town. By teleporting, and a little magic help from the flower spirit Alstromeria.
“Thank you for sweating with me!”
Said Riri with his grin.
“Riri-sensei, explain, what does this grueling walk have to do with the second round of the tournament tomorrow?!”
Sewot Amaryliss is still upset. Riri just smiled at her smile.
“You will know when the second half is in front of you tomorrow. Come back to the academy! Alstromeria and Typha, please deliver them safely yes!”
Alstromeria took a little, but after that politely she gave a respectful greeting in front of Riri.
“If Riri-sama asks, then I will do it. Be careful on the way home, Riri-sama.”
Riri smiled stiffly hearing the words from the mouth of Alstromeria which she had heard today for several times.
“Alright, until tomorrow!”
Riri waved towards her students who were already quite far away from her. He sighed.
“Mana may not..cube know my relationship with Carnation-nee...”
Camelyum appeared with his human form and stood beside Riri.
“I understand you won't be able to tell them, Master.”
“I'm sure Carnation-nee talks a lot about me to you.”
Camelyum faced Riri and snatched a little.
“As a partner, that's a natural thing right?”
“Yes yes partnerku—”
Suddenly Riri's body shakes and hits Camelyum's body which immediately holds him.
“M-Master!?”
“Came... Can you use your teleport magic…? I don't think my mana will be enough..”.
Camelyum was quite worried when his hand came into contact with Riri's arm which became ice-cold.
“Master survive! Riri's! You heard Riri!?”
Unfortunately his master did not hear him, as both of his eyelids had been tightly closed.